December 30, 2010

Recent reports indicate a rise in the amount of individuals filing for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. This could be due to many factors including the rise in unemployment and even the ease of applying for disability benefits online may be a culprit. Whatever the reason, Indiana Social Security disability claimants are not immune to the ramifications of a rising number of disability applications. Indianapolis Social Security Lawyer Scott Lewis fears this rise may result in even longer processing times of applications and create an even more burdensome backlog of individuals waiting on an Indiana Social Security disability hearing. Sources show that Social Security disability applications have increased by 21 percent recently and in Indianapolis Disability Attorney Scott Lewis’ experience Indiana has been no exception. Mr. Lewis has noticed an increase in the amount of interest shown in individuals asking if they may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. While the requirements of being entitled to Indiana Social Security benefits may appear straightforward, there are many variables that can enter into the equation. For instance, many of these Indiana residents applying for Social Security disability benefits are receiving unemployment benefits. While this should not be an absolute bar to receiving Social Security disability benefits, some Administrative Law Judges look on the payments of unemployment as a factor in turning down an otherwise valid Social Security disability claim. What does all of this mean to a disabled Indiana resident? It may mean a longer waiting period for your claim to be processed. It should not discourage you or a family member from applying for Social Security disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Just because there are more people applying for disability benefits does not mean they are more difficult to obtain. As always, … Continued

December 21, 2010

Indianapolis Social Security lawyer Scott D. Lewis usually advises his clients to apply for both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits when filing their initial application. Mr. Lewis believes it is important to apply for both programs because if you are not eligible for one program the other program may be right for you. Indiana disability claimants should be aware; however, the criteria is different for the two programs. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program will look at an individual’s resources to determine if they qualify financially and how much their monthly benefit might be. Why does the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program care about your resources? Resources are just one of the factors to figure out whether you are eligible for the benefits. Indiana disability claimants need to know there is a limit for countable resources. At the current time it is $2,000 for an individual and is $3,000 for a couple. Indianapolis Social Security Attorney Scott Lewis lets his clients know they will be asked various questions about their resources by the Indiana Social Security Administration (SSA). What does the Social Security Administration (SSA) consider resources? This is not limited to, but can include things like: life insurance land personal property cash items that can be changed to cash for food and shelter vehicles There is also something called “deemed” resources. This can be some of the resources of a spouse, parent’s spouse, and parent, just to name a few. If you find you have not worked long enough to be awarded Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, then the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program may be the right fit for you. If you have questions concerning your Indiana Social Security benefits call Indianapolis disability attorney Scott D. Lewis for a free case evaluation. You can protect … Continued

December 16, 2010

Indiana disability lawyer Scott Lewis finds on occasion his clients have a diagnosis without appropriate medical testing to back it up. At times, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will look through your medical record and remark that while it has volumes of records it is lacking appropriate medical testing. To put it in its simplest terms, you may complain of a broken leg, but without an X-ray you may have a difficult time convincing anyone there is actually a fracture. Some common tests Indiana Social Security attorney Scott D. Lewis finds absent in a disability claimant’s medical file can include but are not limited to those claiming: Fibromyalgia With this diagnosis, Mr. Lewis has found Administrative Law Judge’s often have a hard time getting their hands around this condition without appropriate testing. Because currently there is no X-ray or lab testing for the diagnosis of Fibromiyalgia, many times tender points throughout the body are used to determine a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. A diagnosis of Fibromyalgia may be made when a patient is positive in 11 of 18 of these tender points. Does this mean you will qualify for Indiana Social Security disability benefits? Not always, as some Administrative Law Judges are still skeptical as to this diagnosis. Various Breathing Disorders Pulmonary functioning tests may be beneficial to a claim for a breathing disorder. A few of these tests can include spirometry and methocholine challenge. If you suffer from COPD, emphysema, asthma, or any other pulmonary condition you should consult your physician for appropriate testing. Impairments of the Spine Those Indiana Social Security disability claimants finding they are experiencing a disabling condition due to neck and/or back problems should seek appropriate medical testing such as an MRI. In Indiana Social Security attorney Scott Lewis’ experience, a MRI can be crucial in … Continued

December 12, 2010

Indianapolis disability attorney Scott Lewis fields occasional telephone calls from his Indiana disability clients asking what the ramifications will be if they try to reenter the workforce. As fundamental as it may sound, the facts of a particular case always matter. Many Indiana residents are finding they are having a difficult time putting food on the table for themselves and their families during a very lengthy application and appeals process. A few topics Indianapolis disability attorney Scott D. Lewis may encounter may include: Are you considering a full time or part time job? If your disabling condition(s) do not permit you to work full time, but you think you may be able to work part time, you may be interested in a term call “Substantial Gainful Activity” or “SGA”. This is an amount the Social Security Administration determines as earnings you can make on a monthly basis and still be entitled to disability benefits. SGA for 2010 is $1,640.00/month for statutorily blind individuals and $1,000.00/month for non-blind individuals. There are different criteria for those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) concerning blind individuals. It appears these amounts will also be valid for 2011, but more information concerning SGA can be found on the Social Security Administration’s website. Should you withdraw your claim for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits as soon as you start back to work? Indianapolis disability lawyer Scott D. Lewis usually advises his clients to wait and see if they are actually able to perform a full-time job or a job that creates more than the SGA for a number of months before withdrawing their claim. Many times, individuals believe they can work but find their condition prevents them from performing substantial gainful activity. If you have been waiting for an Indiana Social Security … Continued

December 6, 2010

Indiana Social Security disability claimants need to know they have a right to hire an Indiana Social Security lawyer or representative when appealing their denied Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim. In Social Security attorney Scott Lewis’ experience claimants are surprised to find out they do not have to pay any upfront fees when hiring Mr. Lewis. Social Security Attorney Scott Lewis works on a contingency basis, so you do not have to pay him a fee if he is not successful in winning your claim. At some Indiana Social Security disability hearings, there are experts that will testify as to what your medical condition is and whether or not there are jobs you can perform. You may find an attorney can help question these experts and help you prevail in your Indiana Social Security disability claim. An Indianapolis Social Security disability attorney may also be familiar with the court proceedings and may help guide you through difficult questioning. Indianapolis disability lawyer Scott Lewis tries to prepare his disability clients as to what they may expect when entering the courtroom and how their day in court may go. You have a right to hire an attorney or representative. Whether an Indiana Social Security disability claimant exercises this right is up to them. Considering Mr. Lewis’ fee is contingent on winning the claim, disability lawyer Scott Lewis feels his clients are more comfortable in this type of fee agreement. Most of Mr. Lewis’ clients are in no position to pay upfront expenses or pay an attorney if their claim is not approved. The last thing an Indiana disabled resident needs is another bill with no income to pay it.

December 3, 2010

Indianapolis Social Security disability lawyer Scott Lewis talks to many Indiana residents every week asking if they can win their Social Security disability claim when they are not seeing doctors. He usually tells them it is going to be very difficult to get a favorable outcome without good medical records to prove they are disabled. Without medical records the Social Security Administration (SSA) has nothing to base a decision on that will result in you being granted disability benefits. Indiana Social Security claimants often ask if the consultative examination the Social Security Administration (SSA) administered will suffice since they don’t have their own personal physician(s). In Indianapolis Disability Lawyer Scott Lewis’ experience, the disability claimant usually cannot rely on a consultative examination for a favorable result. Anyone who has been to one of these consultative examinations probably has had a similar experience. Most Indiana Social Security appeals claimants complain the examinations are very short and many times do not even cover the disabling condition(s) the disabled individual wants to be addressed. In general, it is very difficult to find a substitute for a physician that has seen you for an extended period of time and is familiar with you and your disabling condition. What should you do if you do not have healthcare and you believe you are disabled and unable to work? While you may receive different advice from different sources, Indiana Disability Attorney Scott Lewis often tells his clients to apply for any government sponsored healthcare program that is appropriate for you, go to your local hospital and find out if they offer a low cost health care program, and search for free clinics that can render health care assistance. These are just a few options to try and by no means will they always turn up a positive result. … Continued

November 29, 2010

Many Indiana residents applying for Social Security disability benefits online may find the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) new website a bit easier to navigate compared to the older website. While it may be more pleasing to the eye, the revamped website appears to be very similar to the old website. Actually, it is not too difficult to apply for disability benefits online by just following the simple prompts provided by the website. By typing in www.ssa.gov you can enter the new Social Security website. At the top of the SSA website home page you will see a tab for “disability”. By clicking on this tab you will see directions for following four steps to get the process started. This page not only gets you started on applying for disability benefits, but you may also check your disability application status and also appeal a denied medical decision about your claim. There are a number of other things you can do online with the Social Security Administration’s website, you may want to take a moment to see if any other areas of the website are of interest. While you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits online, it is still Indianapolis Social Security Attorney Scott Lewis’ understanding you cannot apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits on the www.ssa.gov website. Indianapolis disability lawyer Scott Lewis advises his clients to call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Indianapolis disability lawyer Scott Lewis advises his clients to apply for both programs in the event you are not eligible for one program then the other program may be appropriate for your circumstances.

November 22, 2010

Indiana Social Security disability payments can vary from one person to another. Indianapolis Social Security attorney Scott Lewis is often asked what a person can expect from the first monthly disability payment his client may receive in the mail. Depending on what program you qualify for, the amounts can vary and the reason you get that particular amount can also vary. The criteria to establish the dollar amount for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits versus Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are very different. There are a few things you may want to consider when examining why you receive a particular dollar amount from these two different programs. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): With this program Social Security disability payments are based on an average of the earnings over the years that you worked. This program is funded through tax revenue you are paying as you work. Because individuals incomes can vary greatly, the calculated amount of a disability benefit check can vary greatly also. This calculation can be complex and to get an accurate amount it is recommended you contact your local Indiana Social Security office. Supplemental Security Income (SSI): This program does not require a person to pay through payroll taxes in order to qualify for benefits. It is more of a “need” based program. Your SSI payments are usually lower the more income you receive. The Social Security Administration (SSA) may consider income as earned income, unearned income, in-kind income, and deemed income. Again, this program may seem complicated and relies on different formulas and it may be in your best interest to contact your local Social Security Administration office to receive accurate information. Indianapolis Social Security disability attorney Scott Lewis recommends his clients to apply for both the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the … Continued

November 18, 2010

Indianapolis Social Security lawyer Scott Lewis travels to many Social Security hearing offices around the state of Indiana. There has been much news recently about the safety and security of these Social Security hearing offices. Due to the large amount of pending Indiana Social Security disability claims, some hearings take place in atmospheres that may surprise Indiana Social Security disability claimants. With that in mind, it may not be a surprise that the level of security varies from one hearing location to another. The majority of the time an Indiana Social Security disability claimant will have a hearing at the Office of Disability, Adjudication and Review (ODAR). At the majority of ODAR locations Indianapolis disability attorney Scott Lewis visits, the security is very similar. Indiana Social Security disability claimants will enter the hearing office and be asked for photo identification, asked some basic questions, and then usually purses and belongings are checked over and a metal detector is used. If everything checks out, you let the staff know you have arrived and take a seat. Recently, due to a large amount of pending claims, hearings are being held in what Indiana Social Security disability claimants may think is a strange atmosphere for a hearing. Some of these locations may even include hotels. Indianapolis Social Security disability lawyer Scott Lewis sometimes finds himself and his client in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in a hotel room. Yes that is correct, a hotel room. Will your end result be different from a hearing in a hotel room? Probably not, but it does seem rather odd. The only thing Indiana disability lawyer Scott Lewis has noticed at these “make shift” hearings location is that there is minimal security. At times the Indiana disability client does not even check in. They simply … Continued

November 16, 2010

It shouldn’t be surprising Indiana disability claimants are usually struggling to make ends meet. Indianapolis disability lawyer Scott Lewis understands the financial problems a disabling condition can cause and provides a free consultation to evaluate your Social Security disability benefits claim. Social Security disability attorney Scott Lewis receives numerous calls per week from Indiana residents who are confused by the Social Security process and are happy to hear they can receive a free evaluation of their case. What happens in a free Social Security disability case evaluation? Generally, Mr. Lewis finds these calls fall into two categories: Individuals who have not filed for their Indiana Social Security disability benefits. These individuals usually have questions as to how disabled they must be, if a particular disabling condition qualifies them for benefits, how long they must be off of work, and finally and perhaps most important how do they file their initial claim. It is not uncommon for these individuals to have numerous questions as the Indiana Social Security disability process can be confusing. Indiana residents who have not applied for their Social Security disability benefits need to know the majority of Social Security disability claims are denied at the initial stage. During this initial free evaluation Indiana Social Security clients should ask disability attorney Scott Lewis as many questions as possible to help clear up any confusion regarding their disability claim or about the Social Security disability claims process. After all, it’s a free consultation so disability claimants should use it to their advantage. Individuals that have been denied their Indiana Social Security disability benefits. Most of these Indiana residents call disability lawyer Scott Lewis sounding disgruntled and upset that Social Security is disapproving their claim when they know they are unable to work and support themselves and their family. Questions … Continued